Gyratator with high center drive



Oct. 1, 1929. H. F. SNYDER GYRATATOR WITH HIGH CENTER DRIVE Filed March 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l lru/enior jfowamlli'fi 2; I L M4 W v Oct. 1, 1929. H. F. SNYDER GYRATATOR WITH HIGH CENTER DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1925 Ira/@7250 7".-

WAMEW dlfllallllllf IIHH II I! h H HIM H I Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD F. SNYDER, OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY M'ESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MAYTAG COMPANY, OF NEWTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GYRATATOR WITH HIGH CENTER DRIVE Application filed March 20, 1925. Serial No. 16,949.

My invention relates to washing machines.

and particularly -the agitator mechanism thereof and to the means for driving the agitator from a drive shaft which projects upwardly through the base of the tub.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improvement in the agitator construction shown .in my Patent No. 1,506,783 issued Sept. 2, 1924, by providing the substantially disk-like agitator therein shown with a central cylindrical stem ris ing to a point well above the upper plane of the upstanding blades, this upstanding stem being substantially smooth on its outer surface and having a smooth closed upper portion. By means of this construction any tendency of the fabrics to accumulate at the central portion of the agitator above the upstanding blades thereof is entirely eliminated because the swirling fabrics will contact with the smooth walls of this upstanding stem and will be maintained out of rubbing engagement with the oscillating blades of the agitator. In addition, by extending this upstanding stem well above the normal liquid level of the water in the tub and forming the interior of the upstanding stem with a driving connection to the driving shaft which projects upwardly through the bottom of the tub. any leakage of water through the base of the tub is prevented.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a rotatable agitator wherein the agitator is provided with a basal liquid im- 36 pelling member and a central upstandlng stem which projectssubstantially to the top of the tub and forms a housing and driving connection to the shaft which projects upwardly through an opening in the bottom of 40 the tub.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction which will eliminate the necessity of the packing around the rotatable drive shaft where the shaft enters the bottom of the tub.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel non-leakable connection between the drive shaftwhich projects through the bottom of the tub and the agitator driven by the shaft.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel construction of a detachable agitator which comprises a lower bladed portion and a central upstanding smooth surfaced stem which projects substantially to the top of the tub and above the water line, the stem forming a substantially water-tight connection above the waterline with the upstanding drive shaft which pro ects upwardly through the bottom of the tub.

Still another object of my invention re sides in thenovelarrangement of upper and lower bearing members of the drive shaft which project-sthrough the base of the tub which bearing members are rigidly carried by suitable brackets disposed both within 2111?. without the basal wall portion of the- Another object of the invention resides in the novel construction of the agitator having a lower bladed portion and a high center detachable connection with the upstanding drive shaft which projects centrally up through the bottom of the tub.

These and other objects of the invention willbecomeapparent from a perusal of the following specification wherein Figure 1 is a side view of the tub with parts of the casing wall broken away so as to expose the agitator to view.

Figure 2 is a view on line 2-2 of Figure L Figure 3 is a sectional view of the agitator mechanism.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the tub 1 is preferably of the shape shown in my Patent 1.506.783 granted Sept. 2, 1924.

The tub is shown as provided with downwardly tapering basal walls :3 which terminate in rim 3 to which is rigidly connected a center bridge plate 4preferably of aluminum. This plate 4 closes the opening in the base of the tub. This center bridge plate 4 is provided with an integral upstanding boss or sleeve 5which forms a rigid connection for relatively long upstanding standpipe 6, referably of brass. This stand-pipe is rigid y connected in place by means of a press fit. To the bottom of the center bridge plate and exterior thereof is disposed a bearing bracket 7. This bearing bracket is formed with a sleeve like portion 8 which is spaced somewhat from the end of the sleeve 5. A drive shaft 9 is disposed with one end in this hearing 8 and extends upwardly through the stand-pipe 6, the upper end of the shaft projecting beyond the upper end of the stand-pipe and substantially up to the top of the tub. Oilless bearing pieces of graphite bronze, what is known to the trade as durex, are disposed between the lower end of the shaft 9 and the bearing 8. These cured to the upper end of the stand pipe by means of a tapered pin 16. Between the inner wall of this ring and the shaft 9 is located another oilless bearing 17, in which the upper end of shaft 9 rotates. The upper face of this aluminum bearing 15 is provided with an oil groove 18 which leads to the shaft. The upper end of the stand-pipe projects above the normal liquid level in the To the upper end of the shaft 9 there is pinned as at 19 an angularly shaped torque block 20 preferably of brass. In Figure 4 the shape of this block is shown as square. This block forms a detachable driving connection for the agitator. I

In the present instance the agitator comprises lower trough like disk 22 having one or more upstanding blades 23 thereon and preferably radiating from the center of axis of rotation of the agitator. ,At its central point the agitator is provided with a relatively long upstanding smooth-walled stem which projects upwardly above the upper,

end of the shaft 9. In the present instance the stem portion 24 of the agitator is rigid- Ly connected to the trough like portion of the. agitator by means of rivets which are flush with the exterior of the agitator.

The outer wall of the stem 24 is preferably smooth and circular. At its upper end it is provided with a drive hub 25 preferably of aluminum. This drive hub is connected to the upper end of the stem by means of the pin-26. The inner 'wall of this hub is formed angularly, preferably square,to correspond to the contour or cross-section of the torque block 20. The upper end of the drive hub 25 is pr vided with an aluminum cap 26 which is held in place by rolling over the periphery of the drive hub as shown at 27. The inner basal wall of the trough like portion 22 of the agitator is providedwith a hub which forms a snug but rotatable fit about a bronze bearing sleeve 28 whichv sleeve 28 is attached to the stand-pipe 6 as by means of a press fit. This sleeve 28 constitutes a steadying bearing for the power portion of the agitator. It will be evident that the agitator includes the cylindrical stem 24 and can be bodily detached from the pipe 6 and torque block 20 merely by withdrawing the agitator endwise from the shaft and block. The detachable connection between the angular blllock 20 and the hollow drive hub 25 permits t is.

By thus constructing my new agitator it must be apparent that when the same is oscillated by means of the driving mechanism,,

the liquid in the tub will be thrown outwardly by means of the upstanding blade 23, substantially along the upwardly inclined basal portions of the tub 1, then upwardly parallel with the sides of the tub 1 to the top of the tub, thence inwardly and toward the smooth walled cylindrical member 24 and down.- wardly toward the blades 23. It must be evident that the smooth walled cylindrical upstanding stem 24 with its smooth dome portion 25' provides a means for preventing downward deflection of the fabrics carried by the swirling currents of water, on to the central portion of the agitator. Without this upstanding stem 24 these fabrics might.

possibly accumulate at the central portion of the agitator and tend to accumulate in a knot or tangleflat this point. At the same time by extending his central stem above the normal liquid level of the tub and forming the interior with the driving connection, all dan-' ger of leakage of water through the bottom of the tub is eliminated.

As shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 3, the upper portion of thecylindrical stem projects substantially to the top or cover 28 of the tub, which cover 28 is shown as provided with a hinged connection 29.

Having thus. described my invention,

1. In a Washingmachine, a'tub, a member of tubular form having one end rigidly engaging the bottom wall of said tub so as to provide a stand pipe, a drive shaft extending axially within saidlstand pipe, an angular torque-block carrie'dby oneend of said shaft, an agitator rotatably engaging the tubular body of the stand pipe and provided witha tubular stem enclosing said stand pipe, and a drive member located'within said stem and provided with an angular pocket complemental to and engaging said torque-block so that said shaft and said stem will rotate together.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a tubular member having one end normally fixed with respect to the bottom of said tub so as to provide a stand-pipe, a. drive shaft extending axially through said stand-pipe, an agitator provided withan upwardly curved central portion and a central upwardly extending tubular deflecting stem enclosing said standpipe and provided with a smooth exterior surface, means connecting the upper end of vide a stand-pipe, a drive shaft extending axially through said stand-pipe, an agitator provided with an upwardly curved central portion and a central upwardly extended tubular deflecting stem enclosing said standpipe and provided with a smooth exterior surface, means connecting said stem to said shaftso that they will rotate together, and means for oscillating said shaft, said impeller having means so positioned that the oscillation of the shaft will cause the contents of the tub to move outwardly and upwardly, said deflecting stem being positioned to rotate about said stand-pipe'so as to prevent moving articles within the tub from accumulating at the center of the impeller.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

HOWARD F. SNYDER.

said stem with the adjacent end of said shaft so that they will rotate together, said stem being positioned to rotate about said standpipe, and a bearing interposed between the lower portion of said stem and the contiguous portion of said stand-pipe.

4. In a washing machine, a tub having an ing sleeve concentric with the aperture thereof, a tubular stand-pipe having one end 1nsertcd into said sleeve so as to be supported thereby, a bearing in the other end of said stand-pipe, a second bearing independent of said stand-pipe, a drive shaft extending axiah 1y within said stand-pipe and journaled in said bearings, an agitator provided with an upwardly curved central portion and a central upwardly extended tubular deflecting stem enclosing said stand-pipe and provided with a smooth exterior surface, and means connecting said stem to said shaft so that they will rotate together, said stem being positioned to rotate about said stand-pipe.

5. In a Washing machine, a tub having an apertured bottom, a bridge plate closing the aperture and provided with an upstanding sleeve concentric with said aperture, a tubular stand-pipe havin one end inserted into said sleeve, so as to e supported thereby, a bearing in the other end of said stand-pipe,

, a second bearing carried by said bridge plate,

a drive shaft extending axially through said stand-pipe and journaled in said bearings, an

agitator provided with an upwardly curved central portion and a central upwardly extended tubular deflecting stem enclosing said stand-pipe and provided with a smooth exterior surface, and means connecting said stem to said shaft so that they will rotate together, said stem being positioned to rotate I 7 about said stand-pipe.

6'. In a washing machine, a tub, a tubular mefnber having one end normally fixed with respect to the bottom of said tub so as to proapertured bottom provided with an upstand- .v 

